Archive for July 2010

Lighter Handy, 1940, belonging to a team member minesweeper YMS-370

Title: Handy
Type: Gasoline Lighter
Material: copper, silver plated
Year: 1940
Country: Switzerland
Approximate cost: $ 30-100

Lighters with wartime history are fairly common, but this - one of the most interesting finds. This Swiss Lighter Handy, is almost completely analogous Dunhill Rollalite by design (I can even assume that it did exactly Dunhill: after all, was the model Dunhill Handy , other designs, but with the same name). Lighter is made of copper and then silvered - as evidenced by the inscription 'S.800' on the mechanism of flint (by the way, looks and feels like it is completely silver, but copper yellow worn on the corner gives silver plated). In general, the sensations in your hand, it seems like the lighter watch: so perfectly fit all the details and so accurately and reliably done (that is to be expected for Swiss products:). When you open the lid opens up a spring just as good as new, and this despite the fact that the lighter at least 70 years old!

But history tells us the inscription on the cigarette lighter. It belonged to a team member minesweeper YMS-370. The history of this ship rather brief. Ships series of YMS (Auxiliary Mine Sweeper) were so small (displacement was only 270 tons), which had no name - only a serial number. Results from 1941 was built 481 ships of a series YMS, they were almost identical in design. The most recent series of YMS ship was in service of the American Navy until November 1969.

YMS-370 was laid on January 23, 1943 at the dock of Wheeler Shipbuilding Corp and launched on August 7 that year. After serving only 3 years old, he was decommissioned June 19, 1946, and finally cut into scrap metal in 1948. But in a short time of service, he had visited many Asian countries, which are mentioned on this lighter: Philippines, China, Japan, Korea ... The last two photographs - the ship itself and his team in the last year of service. To some of these officers and men in the photo belonged to this unique and lighter. Who have you been, stranger CDH?

07/17/2010 Tags: Filed under: 1940 , Handy , Switzerland 17 comment (-s)

Semi-automatic lighter Nassau, 1910

Manufacturer: Nassau Lighter Company
Name: Nassau
Type: Semi-automatic petrol lighter
Material: Copper
Year: 1910
Country: United States
Approximate cost: $ 75-200

Nassau cigarette lighters were produced in New York, on Nassau street, in 1910 (although the patent by 1905). It was one of the first automatic pocket lighters that time, the mechanism of action of this principle was invented in Austria in 1909. There were many options for finishing the hull, from simple chrome to gold and silver shells. On this lighter is attached company logo Royal Arcanum - one of the oldest insurance companies mutual benefits, founded in 1877 in Boston, it exists today.

07/13/2010 Tags: , Filed under: 1910 , Nassau , USA 11 comment (-s)

Lighter Swiza, the 1930

Title: Swiza
Type: Gasoline Lighter
Material: Brass
Year: 1930s
Country: Switzerland
Approximate cost: $ 20-50

Small wonder the Swiss engineering, the rare lighter Swiza 1930s, perhaps, older brother and dad and then the popular model Dunhill Rollalite:) The mechanics made with amazing accuracy and detail, is particularly interesting cunning mechanism replacing the flint. To replace the need to pull together the two tiny rychazhochka, after which a horizontal flap of flint moves out of the way.

07/13/2010 Tags: Filed under: 1930 , Swiza , Switzerland 5 comment (-s)

Lighter Cooperative of Myanmar, 1940-1950

Title: Cooperative
Type: Gasoline Lighter
Material: Copper
Year: 1940-1950 (?)
Country: Myanmar (Burma)
Approximate cost: $ 10-20

Very entertaining lighter. At first glance, it would have gone to 100% for the English, if not stamped on the bottom of the case: Made in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Surely not all even aware of the existence of such a state! But that's lighter then - there is:)

03/07/2010 Tags: Filed under: 1940 , Untitled , Myanmar (Burma) One comment

IMCO 4300, 1936

Manufacturer: IMCO
Name: IMCO 4300
Type: Gasoline Lighter
Material: Copper
Year: 1936
Country: Austria
Approximate cost: $ 15-30

The first of the models with removable lid Imco - design easier to nowhere, than other models of the time it looks very primitive, but at the same time remains quite working and reliable.

02/07/2010 Tags: Filed under: 1930 , IMCO , Austria No Comments